Destinations
11 Best Gelato Shops in Florence
Whether you're a staunch traditionalist or a fan of fresh, new flavors, the city has you covered.
Gelato is as dense with history as it is, flavor: Bernardo Buontalenti is said to have invented the sweet treat in Renaissance Florence. Today, if you ask Florentines which spot in the city scoops the best, you’ll get 10 different answers. Some shops specialize in certain flavors—crunchy stracciatella, or tangy Amalfi lemon—while some serve it in caramel-colored cones, and others stick to the standard paper bowls. There's no shortage of options, but it's easy to be fooled by impostors: brightly (and artificially) colored mountains of gelato are piled high to draw in tourists. So long as you keep this list on hand—our picks for the best gelato shops in Florence—you won't have to worry about that.